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Dr. Ruch/Julie: The governor has approved this draft, and I wanted the two of you to give
me your final blessing before I send it to Mr. Von Ehr. Please get back to me as soon as
possible.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 24, 2005
CONTACT: Mark Johnston at (605) 773-3212
Gov. Rounds announces cooperative agreement with leading
nanotechnology company
RAPID CITY, S. D. - An agreement between the world's leading supplier of molecular
nanotechnology tools, products and services and South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology (School of Mines) will help bring new high-tech research, development and
commercialization opportunities to the state.
Gov. Mike Rounds announced today a cooperative agreement involving Zyvex Corp. of
Richardson, Texas, the state of South Dakota, and Rapid City economic development efforts
to designate the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology as the exclusive provider of
integrated circuit (IC) failure analysis services to the semi-conductor industry.
"I am very proud that Zyvex, and more specifically Mr. Jim Von Ehr, has put his confidence
in the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for this cutting-edge technological
service," the Governor Rounds said. "Zyvex could have chosen any site in the world, but
they chose South Dakota because of our people, and our ability to work as a team."
Under the agreement, Zyvex will outsource all of its testing services to the Center for
Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale - CAAN, located on the South Dakota School of
Mines and Technology campus in Rapid City. The Center is one of four research centers
created last year by Gov. Rounds' 2010 Initiative. One of the goals of the initiative is to
strengthen university research in South Dakota and its commercial applications.
"We are extremely excited to partner with the South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology," said James Von Ehr, founder and chairman of Zyvex Corp. "Nanotechnology
has been called 'the next industrial revolution' because of its potential to transform
manufacturing into a high-margin, environmentally clean industry with the economics
and versatility of software.
‘South Dakota has made a rare commitment to foster not just academic research, but real
commercialization of this field,” Von Ehr added. “Investing in research is valuable to
society at large, but investing in commercialization, with the jobs that will be created,
will have a greater economic payback for the region that hosts those new companies."
The agreement between the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Zyvex
requires the purchase of highly specialized equipment from Zyvex. The equipment
measures structures smaller than 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one-billionth of a
meter. As a comparison, a human hair's diameter measures about 200,000 nanometers.
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times
New Roman
Deleted: ,
Deleted: DSM&T
Deleted: and
Deleted: opportunities
Deleted: the
Deleted: E
Deleted: D
Deleted: Foundation
Deleted: School of Mines
Deleted: School of Mines
Deleted: the governor on the
announcement
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: c
Deleted: .
Deleted: I
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: which
Deleted: below the
Deleted: level
Deleted: ; a
"The semiconductor industry just keeps making things smaller and smaller," said CAAN
Director Dr. Shawn Decker. "Until Zyvex developed the equipment, the ability to test
integrated circuits at this level did not exist. We are very excited to be working with
Zyvex on this and other nano level initiatives!"
-more-
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will be the first university to have a
fully integrated system installed and operational. The probing system will allow the
university to utilize the most advanced integrated system developed for IC probing and
nanomanipulation.
Electrical characterization of integrated circuits is an integral component of the fabrication
and design loop. As high magnification scanning particle beam microscopes are needed to
keep up with the decreasing size scale of IC technology, electrical characterization using
probing systems that are specifically designed and optimized for operation in these
microscopes is needed.
The need to probe sub-100 nanometer features is relatively new to the semiconductor
industry. The Zyvex system, part of their NanoWorks[R] product line, is capable of easily
landing four NanoEffector[tm] probes within a 125 x 125 nanometer area with better than 5
nanometer resolution.
With data collected from individual on-chip transistors using the Zyvex
Nanomanipulator/prober, IC design engineers can feed actual device data into design
models to improve modeling accuracy.
Zyvex NanoWorks Products comprise flexible, cost-effective, modular tools that promote
interchangeability of sample/structural carriers. Combining these with interchangeable
NanoEffector tools provides a wide array of experimental options-whether the aim is to
study meso, micro, nano or molecular based structures.
"Acquiring this equipment and providing product testing services to the private sector will
help create a national reputation for this new research and development center at South
Dakota School of Mines and Technology," said Harvey Jewett, President of the SD Board of
Regents. "It will also provide a useful research environment for the university’s newly
approved Ph.D. program in nanoscience and nanoengineering."
Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw agreed. “Our economic development community has been
preparing programs and resources like the new business incubator at the South Dakota
School of Mines and Technology campus, for several years now," Mayor Shaw said. "We
have always believed that the university is a cornerstone to developing a technology-based
Deleted: "Rapid City's economic
development community has been
preparing programs and resources like the
new business incubator at the SDSM&T
campus, for several years now," said
Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw. "We have
always believed that the School of Mines
is a cornerstone to developing a
technology based economic development
future for our community, region and
state. We are prepared and poised to
participate in this bright future."¶
Deleted: school
Deleted: at the university level
Deleted: let
Deleted: SDSMT
Deleted: ,
Deleted: School of Mines
Deleted: school'
economic development future for our community, region and state. We are prepared and
poised to participate in this bright future."
Rounds announced that the state has provided a $250,000 grant to help the South Dakota
School of Mines and Technology and CAAN acquire the equipment. "Additional funds
were provided through a loan from the Rapid Fund, a local economic development
revolving loan fund," said Rapid City Area Economic Development President Bob
DeMerrseman. "This opportunity between Zyvex and the university will help all of us
leverage the leadership Gov. Rounds has provided through the 2010 Initiative."
-30-
About the company:
Zyvex Corporation, based in Richardson, Texas, is the first molecular nanotechnology
company. Zyvex's vision is to be the leading worldwide supplier of tools, products and
services that enable adaptable, affordable and molecularly precise manufacturing. Zyvex
commercializes nanotechnology to address real-world applications with high growth
potential. Zyvex carries its scientific breakthroughs into key commercial applications in the
area of materials, tools and structures. www.zyvex.com
About the 2010 Initiative:
The 2010 Initiative, unveiled by Gov. Rounds in October of 2003, outlines a series of
specific goals, objectives and action plans for economic growth and visitor spending in the
state by the year 2010. When our vision is fully realized, the 2010 Initiative will yield an
unprecedented era of opportunity and economic development for our state. It's an exciting
and important undertaking, one that will have lasting impact for all of us here in South
Dakota. For more information, visit our website at www.2010initiative.com
About the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology serves the people of South Dakota
as their technological university. Its mission is to provide a well-rounded education
that prepares students for leadership roles in engineering and science; to advance the
state of knowledge and application of this knowledge through research and
scholarship; and to benefit the state, region, and nation through collaborative efforts
in education and economic development. It is dedicated to being a leader in 21st
Formatted: Font: Bold
Deleted: ¶
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: ,
Deleted: ,
Deleted: ,
Deleted:
Century education that reflects a belief in the role of engineers and scientists as crucial
to the advancement of society.
Formatted: Font: (Default) Bodoni
MT, Font color: Auto, Not Expanded
by / Condensed by

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Dr. Ruch/Julie: The governor has approved this draft, and I wanted the two of you to give
me your final blessing before I send it to Mr. Von Ehr. Please get back to me as soon as
possible.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 24, 2005
CONTACT: Mark Johnston at (605) 773-3212
Gov. Rounds announces cooperative agreement with leading
nanotechnology company
RAPID CITY, S. D. - An agreement between the world's leading supplier of molecular
nanotechnology tools, products and services and South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology (School of Mines) will help bring new high-tech research, development and
commercialization opportunities to the state.
Gov. Mike Rounds announced today a cooperative agreement involving Zyvex Corp. of
Richardson, Texas, the state of South Dakota, and Rapid City economic development efforts
to designate the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology as the exclusive provider of
integrated circuit (IC) failure analysis services to the semi-conductor industry.
"I am very proud that Zyvex, and more specifically Mr. Jim Von Ehr, has put his confidence
in the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for this cutting-edge technological
service," the Governor Rounds said. "Zyvex could have chosen any site in the world, but
they chose South Dakota because of our people, and our ability to work as a team."
Under the agreement, Zyvex will outsource all of its testing services to the Center for
Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale - CAAN, located on the South Dakota School of
Mines and Technology campus in Rapid City. The Center is one of four research centers
created last year by Gov. Rounds' 2010 Initiative. One of the goals of the initiative is to
strengthen university research in South Dakota and its commercial applications.
"We are extremely excited to partner with the South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology," said James Von Ehr, founder and chairman of Zyvex Corp. "Nanotechnology
has been called 'the next industrial revolution' because of its potential to transform
manufacturing into a high-margin, environmentally clean industry with the economics
and versatility of software.
‘South Dakota has made a rare commitment to foster not just academic research, but real
commercialization of this field,” Von Ehr added. “Investing in research is valuable to
society at large, but investing in commercialization, with the jobs that will be created,
will have a greater economic payback for the region that hosts those new companies."
The agreement between the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Zyvex
requires the purchase of highly specialized equipment from Zyvex. The equipment
measures structures smaller than 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one-billionth of a
meter. As a comparison, a human hair's diameter measures about 200,000 nanometers.
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times
New Roman
Deleted: ,
Deleted: DSM&T
Deleted: and
Deleted: opportunities
Deleted: the
Deleted: E
Deleted: D
Deleted: Foundation
Deleted: School of Mines
Deleted: School of Mines
Deleted: the governor on the
announcement
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: c
Deleted: .
Deleted: I
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: which
Deleted: below the
Deleted: level
Deleted: ; a
"The semiconductor industry just keeps making things smaller and smaller," said CAAN
Director Dr. Shawn Decker. "Until Zyvex developed the equipment, the ability to test
integrated circuits at this level did not exist. We are very excited to be working with
Zyvex on this and other nano level initiatives!"
-more-
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will be the first university to have a
fully integrated system installed and operational. The probing system will allow the
university to utilize the most advanced integrated system developed for IC probing and
nanomanipulation.
Electrical characterization of integrated circuits is an integral component of the fabrication
and design loop. As high magnification scanning particle beam microscopes are needed to
keep up with the decreasing size scale of IC technology, electrical characterization using
probing systems that are specifically designed and optimized for operation in these
microscopes is needed.
The need to probe sub-100 nanometer features is relatively new to the semiconductor
industry. The Zyvex system, part of their NanoWorks[R] product line, is capable of easily
landing four NanoEffector[tm] probes within a 125 x 125 nanometer area with better than 5
nanometer resolution.
With data collected from individual on-chip transistors using the Zyvex
Nanomanipulator/prober, IC design engineers can feed actual device data into design
models to improve modeling accuracy.
Zyvex NanoWorks Products comprise flexible, cost-effective, modular tools that promote
interchangeability of sample/structural carriers. Combining these with interchangeable
NanoEffector tools provides a wide array of experimental options-whether the aim is to
study meso, micro, nano or molecular based structures.
"Acquiring this equipment and providing product testing services to the private sector will
help create a national reputation for this new research and development center at South
Dakota School of Mines and Technology," said Harvey Jewett, President of the SD Board of
Regents. "It will also provide a useful research environment for the university’s newly
approved Ph.D. program in nanoscience and nanoengineering."
Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw agreed. “Our economic development community has been
preparing programs and resources like the new business incubator at the South Dakota
School of Mines and Technology campus, for several years now," Mayor Shaw said. "We
have always believed that the university is a cornerstone to developing a technology-based
Deleted: "Rapid City's economic
development community has been
preparing programs and resources like the
new business incubator at the SDSM&T
campus, for several years now," said
Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw. "We have
always believed that the School of Mines
is a cornerstone to developing a
technology based economic development
future for our community, region and
state. We are prepared and poised to
participate in this bright future."¶
Deleted: school
Deleted: at the university level
Deleted: let
Deleted: SDSMT
Deleted: ,
Deleted: School of Mines
Deleted: school'
economic development future for our community, region and state. We are prepared and
poised to participate in this bright future."
Rounds announced that the state has provided a $250,000 grant to help the South Dakota
School of Mines and Technology and CAAN acquire the equipment. "Additional funds
were provided through a loan from the Rapid Fund, a local economic development
revolving loan fund," said Rapid City Area Economic Development President Bob
DeMerrseman. "This opportunity between Zyvex and the university will help all of us
leverage the leadership Gov. Rounds has provided through the 2010 Initiative."
-30-
About the company:
Zyvex Corporation, based in Richardson, Texas, is the first molecular nanotechnology
company. Zyvex's vision is to be the leading worldwide supplier of tools, products and
services that enable adaptable, affordable and molecularly precise manufacturing. Zyvex
commercializes nanotechnology to address real-world applications with high growth
potential. Zyvex carries its scientific breakthroughs into key commercial applications in the
area of materials, tools and structures. www.zyvex.com
About the 2010 Initiative:
The 2010 Initiative, unveiled by Gov. Rounds in October of 2003, outlines a series of
specific goals, objectives and action plans for economic growth and visitor spending in the
state by the year 2010. When our vision is fully realized, the 2010 Initiative will yield an
unprecedented era of opportunity and economic development for our state. It's an exciting
and important undertaking, one that will have lasting impact for all of us here in South
Dakota. For more information, visit our website at www.2010initiative.com
About the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology serves the people of South Dakota
as their technological university. Its mission is to provide a well-rounded education
that prepares students for leadership roles in engineering and science; to advance the
state of knowledge and application of this knowledge through research and
scholarship; and to benefit the state, region, and nation through collaborative efforts
in education and economic development. It is dedicated to being a leader in 21st
Formatted: Font: Bold
Deleted: ¶
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: SDSM&T
Deleted: ,
Deleted: ,
Deleted: ,
Deleted:
Century education that reflects a belief in the role of engineers and scientists as crucial
to the advancement of society.
Formatted: Font: (Default) Bodoni
MT, Font color: Auto, Not Expanded
by / Condensed by